-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- David Duchovny 's latest role is stirring up more intrigue than any episode of `` The X-Files . '' The actor plays himself in a beer commercial imagining how proud he would be if he were Russian .

`` And I found out that being Russian , I 'd have many things to be proud of , '' he says in the video , which was posted Friday on the Russian beer Siberian Crown 's YouTube page .

A message in Russian was posted with the video . The Google translation of the message said that Duchovny `` decided to do a film about Russian pride and love of country . ''

The timing of the video , viewed at least 1.6 million times in the first three days , could n't be more controversial , considering the international condemnation of Russia after a Malaysian airliner went down over eastern Ukraine this month , killing 298 people on board . U.S. and Ukrainian officials have said a Russian-made missile system was used to shoot down the plane from rebel territory . Russia and the rebels have disputed the allegations and blamed Ukraine for the crash .

`` This is the country where I was born and raised , '' Duchovny says at the start of the 2Â 1/2 - minute video . `` But there is another country , where I got my family name from . And sometimes I wonder : What if things turned out differently ? What if I were Russian ? ''

But Duchovny 's family emigrated from Ukraine , not Russia . He may not have known when he signed up for the commercial job earlier this year , but he apparently did before it was produced .

`` I grew up thinking I was Russian only to find recently that I 've been Ukrainian all along . Never too late to change , '' he said in a Twitter posting on April 4 .

The difference between Ukrainians and Russians is central to the struggle between pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian government . Ethnic Russian rebels in the east and south of Ukraine identify with Russia .

Duchovny tweeted a photo on May 30 , apparently taken while he was producing the scene where he imagined he was a Russian cosmonaut . `` Ground control to Major Ivan , '' he tweeted .

He also imagines himself to be a Russian ballet choreographer , a Russian-speaking actor and a Russian rocker with a mullet .

`` Could I still be among the stars ? '' Duchovny asks in the video . `` How would I surround myself with beauty ? What role could I have played ? Would my smile be known the world over ? ''

Joshua Edwards , an assistant to Duchovny manager Melanie Greene , said Monday that Greene was working on a response to the controversy , but Edwards later said it would only be given to TMZ .

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David Duchovny 's Russian beer ad is released at an awkward time

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`` I found out that being Russian , I 'd have many things to be proud of , '' he says in the video

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`` I grew up thinking I was Russian only to find recently that I 've been Ukrainian , '' he tweets

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Duchovny and his manager did not immediately respond to CNN 's request for comment